Sargent, John Singer, A Dinner Table at Night, 1884 – The Mag’s 129th
Haibun
Dinner done I felt sated. The glow of the red lamps reminded me there was more to come.
How I longed to settle down. Oh, how I wished that this was my own dining room and that my beloved and I would arise from the table to take a relaxing drink in the library. But my library would not have red walls, they would possess the calmness of blue. And my beloved dead of tuberculosis these many years would be dressed in an artist’s bohemian attire, not stern, cold black.
My dining partner arose signaling that my work for the night had just begun.
Haiku
smoldering heat
reddish light bordello
a nights work ahead
Linked to Magpie Tales #129
noh where 
ugh…hard life…a taste of what could be but chances are never will be in that line of work…
I wonder what percentage of men are in “the business” compared to women. No, not something that I ever viewed as an option.
Unique presentation ~ I like the haibun ~ The work has just began…such a tough life ~
Thank you heaven and yes, I suspect that you are right … a really tough life.
Awww…poor woman. Very atmospheric write.
Thank you.
oh, i love the take you’ve penned on this painting.
you capture isolation and how the woman is resigned to this life.
Thank you. For me seeing how other people respond to a prompt is a large part of the fun too.
The one word ‘bordello’ paints the whole story…
Hm, yes, 😉
oh..i am so sad for her….x
😉
What an interesting interpretation of the image – you have written a whole novel here, and age-old story, and so succinctly.
Yes Sherry, an age old story, thank you.
Like where you took us with your interpretation. 😀
Thank you Becca.
Oh the tragedies of TB…my own family ravaged by it in the day…
Oh my … how sad. Interesting, I was told for at least 50 years of my life that Mummy’s sister died at 12 years of age of TB … only to find out that she had downs syndrome and no TB.
A whole story in so few words. Well told!
=)
Thanks Sue.
Liz, what a story in such a few lines! I was entranced with it and felt so sorry for her. Well done my friend! xox
Thanks Jeanie … I miss you and hope that all is well with you. I know that you are working terribly hard. Hope that you are able to rest.
Satisfyingly gloomy
It is, isn’t it, being resigned to this life would be quite gloomy.
Dear Liz,
I have always loved the haibun. And you have done it so well here. Thank you for visiting. I will definitely come back.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Please do let me know, should I address you by Raven? My apologies…
Please, either is just fine.
A surprise…didn’t think your story would take you to the hard life of a working girl. Great take on the prompt!
I have no idea why … but it was the first thought that came after seeing her miserable – him stern – and all of that red.
Ah yes, I fear her work will never be quite finished….nice write!
THX.
Very well written!
the picture and the words really have harmonic soul